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Warminster Man Sentenced After Sex Offences

A Warminster man has been sentenced to two years in prison
after admitting to sexually assaulting a teenage boy after he was locked
in the man's flat for a few hours.

Paul Collins, aged
39, originally from Warminster, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a
child, at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 12th January 2018, where he was
sentenced on Friday 9th February 2018.

Paul CollinsOn Tuesday 30th August 2016
Paul Collins invited the 14-year-old in to his flat in Warminster after
promising him drink and drugs. The boy was then assaulted by Collins
who refused to let him leave his flat for up to three hours. Collins
was arrested the same day and released on conditional bail. He has also been given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

However, Collins
went to live in Spain but was arrested for failing to appear at a
police station during his bail term; he was brought back to the UK at
the end of last year (2017) and pleaded guilty in court on Friday 12th
January 2018.

Det Con Melanie Wilson, who was the officer in charge, said: "This is a
good result for us after Paul Collins left the country hoping to avoid
prosecution. However, despite telling us he would never be caught - we
managed to and brought him back to the UK to face justice."

"I'd like to thank the victim for his bravery in coming forward and recounting what is obviously a distressing time for him."

"I hope it gives him some closure knowing that this man has been jailed."

"I
would also like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who may
have been a victim of sex abuse, whether recent or historic, to report
it to police."

"We will investigate, provide you with the full
support you need, and do all that we can to bring to justice offenders
like Collins."